Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1980, Page 175

islets. Start laying second week of May, but
mosl pairs not until middle May.
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricana): Not
known to have nested until one of the years
1965—1967, and again in 1970 and 1973,
one pair each year. Through-passage from
third week of April (first birds observed;
1975: 20.4.; 1976: 21.4.; 1977: 22.4.). Peak
numbers late April- beginning of May. Then
not normally seen until beginning of August
(1975: 3.8.; 1976: 4.8.). Common through
Septcmber, and seen until latter half of
October.
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula): Mig-
rants, arriving late April (1975: 20.4.; 1976:
21.4. ; 1977: 28.4.). Nest primarily on sandy
beaches and hayfields, mainly east part of
Flatey, as commented on by Hörring in
1908.
Snipe (Galhnago gallinago): Migrants
start arriving third week of April (1975:
19.4. ; 1976: 20.4.; 1977: 23.4.). The most
common wader species on Flatey. Uncom-
mon in the other islets. Egg-laying starts
third week of May, and eggs still being
incubatcd have been found until 20. August.
Unknown on Flatey in 1908, but had
already started nesting in 1942. Causes for
increase unknown.
Redshank (Tringa totanus): Start arriving
middlc April (1976: 18.4.; had already
arrived on 18.4.1975 and 16.4.1977). Nearly
as common as Snipe on Flatey. More
common than Snipe in the other islets.
Common breeding species in 1908, but
probably increased in numbers since then.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina): Migrants arriving
in late April — early May (1975: 20.4.; 1976:
29.4. ; 1977: 6.5.). Sparse breeders over whole
of Flatey, probably none nesting in other
parts of the study area. Through-migrants
common on the coast in latter half of May,
normally not seen in June. Start frequenting
mud flats again beginning of July. Not
known to nest until ca. 1954.
Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius):
Uncommon breeding species, nesting
primarily now in other islands of the study
area than Flatey. Number of pairs have re-
mained stable the last decades.
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus loba-
tus): Together with Grey Phalarope, the last
breeding species to arrive on the breeding
grounds in spring (1975: 16.5.; 1976: 21.5.;
1977: 22.5.). Nest sparsely over whole of
Flatey, very few in the other islets. Comraon
in 1908. Common through-migrants in
post-breeding period, numbers starting to
build up in early July. Peak numbers middle
July, up to 300 in a flock. Seen until 20.
August, a few birds only after first week of
August.
Arctic Skua (Slercoranus parasiticus): One
pair (occasionally 2) nested nearly every
year the first three decades of the present
century, but less frequently after that.
Definitely no nesting attempts since 1965.
Usually not seen until July, when skuas start
visiting Puffin colonies for robbing the
Puffins of their food.
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus):
Used to be regular breeders, mainly in the
islets south of Flatey. Nine pairs nested in
the whole study area in 1965. Have declined
since then, and probably do not breed
annually now. The reason for this decline is
constant killing of adults, and destruction of
eggs and chicks.
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus):
Only once recorded nesting in the area (23.7.
1978). An expanding species, which has
colonized the Breidafjördur islands only in
recent years.
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus):
Fairly certain no nesting attempts up till
1966 (1 pair). Since then a variable number
of up to 8 pairs (1969) have nested nearly
every year, mainly on Flatey itself. Coloniz-
ation has proven difficult, primarily because
of human interference.
Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla): Certain that
this species did not attempt to nest in the
area until 1973. Since then the numbers of
breeding pairs in the only colony have con-
stantly increased. Total breeding failure in
the colony every year until in 1978.
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea): By far the
most numerous breeding species in the study
area, nesting in most of the islets (see Fig. 3).
Migrants start arriving in early May (1975:
4.5.; 1976: 7.5.; 1977: 2.5.). First eggs found
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